(19)
(11) EP 0 224 901 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
14.06.1989 Bulletin 1989/24

(43) Date of publication A2:
10.06.1987 Bulletin 1987/24

(21) Application number: 86116651.0

(22) Date of filing: 01.12.1986
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)4G01V 9/04
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE CH DE ES FR GB GR IT LI LU NL SE

(30) Priority: 05.12.1985 US 805271

(71) Applicant: LEVI STRAUSS & CO.
San Francisco California 94120 (US)

(72) Inventors:
  • Blessing, Hubert
    Dallas Texas 75229 (US)
  • Croyle, Gene F.
    Plano Texas 75023 (US)

(74) Representative: Grünecker, Kinkeldey, Stockmair & Schwanhäusser Anwaltssozietät 
Maximilianstrasse 58
80538 München
80538 München (DE)


(56) References cited: : 
   
       


    (54) High resolution optical fiber array and article position determining system


    (57) A vision apparatus for indicating the locations of edges of work pieces in an illuminated work area including several arrays where each array includes several light conducting fibers. One end of the array is positioned in the work area to be illuminated by light except when blocked by the object. The other end of the optical fibers are positioned in a matrix plate contained within a camera enclosure. The camera enclosure further includes a lens to optically couple light from the matrix plate optical fiber ends to a light sensing device that produces electrical signals indicating the presence or absence of light at each of the fiber ends.







    Search report